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Dec 9, 2023
1,087
12,040
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Winter Sunrise over Lake Monona View attachment 353942
Lake Monona, Madison, Wisconsin
iPhone 16 Pro
I don’t like how this uploaded and wish I could have taken a better shot but I was limited by architecture and I’m still learning the nuances of this phone. The original was taken in RAW but I haven’t thrown it into GIMP to do more edits, so the few I made were in the Apple photographs app so I could get it uploaded here to share.
 
Dec 9, 2023
1,087
12,040
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
I agree. I personally feel like I’m just an amateur photographer who’s taken some photo classes and knows how to use programs like Photoshop and GIMP but I’d never call myself a pro. But I don’t feel like I’m just a normal person taking random shots without some sense of thought on how to take them.
 
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woodsroad

Lifer
Oct 10, 2013
12,912
21,592
SE PA USA
I've known numerous "pros" who couldn't shoot their way out of a paper bag. A lot of them washed out when digital came on the scene, eliminating what was essentially a "photo technician" job: the ability to turn out properly exposed, in focus 8x10 glossy B&W prints. Today, there is a similar class of photo computer techs who know the software in and out, can quote pixels and color profiles, but still can't make a unique photo. That's OK, and I don't make it my job to criticize them, unless they ask me to.

That said, I think that the very best photos are the ones that you make and you enjoy. If you enjoy making pictures, then there is no need for more than that. But isn't all of life like that? It certainly holds true for almost all of human activity. Do the things that you enjoy, don't look to others for confirmation.
 
Dec 9, 2023
1,087
12,040
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
I've known numerous "pros" who couldn't shoot their way out of a paper bag. A lot of them washed out when digital came on the scene, eliminating what was essentially a "photo technician" job: the ability to turn out properly exposed, in focus 8x10 glossy B&W prints. Today, there is a similar class of photo computer techs who know the software in and out, can quote pixels and color profiles, but still can't make a unique photo. That's OK, and I don't make it my job to criticize them, unless they ask me to.

That said, I think that the very best photos are the ones that you make and you enjoy. If you enjoy making pictures, then there is no need for more than that. But isn't all of life like that? It certainly holds true for almost all of human activity. Do the things that you enjoy, don't look to others for confirmation.
Agreed! One of my favorite classes in high school back in the 90s was photography. I had my parents 1970s era SLR camera I used to shoot B&W photos. It was hard to get a good shot and you really did have to be mindful as rolls of film cost money, unlike today where most of the cost is the camera itself and the editing programs. The photo I’m most proud of from that class was a night shot of a freeway in NOLA. I wasn’t even sure it would turn out but when I processed the film it did, and it wasn’t a bad pic. I think it’s the one that ensured I aced that class.

Anyways I recognize I’m just playing around with photography these days. I think that a lot of people get a smartphone with a decent camera and are automatically expert pro photographers lol that’s just not the case to get a good shot.

I have an old Canon D40 DSLR that I use a lot but I’d like to upgrade to something more modern for bike touring/bikepacking with several lenses to take nice shots of the places I visit. One day!
 
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woodsroad

Lifer
Oct 10, 2013
12,912
21,592
SE PA USA
Agreed! One of my favorite classes in high school back in the 90s was photography. I had my parents 1970s era SLR camera I used to shoot B&W photos. It was hard to get a good shot and you really did have to be mindful as rolls of film cost money, unlike today where most of the cost is the camera itself and the editing programs. The photo I’m most proud of from that class was a night shot of a freeway in NOLA. I wasn’t even sure it would turn out but when I processed the film it did, and it wasn’t a bad pic. I think it’s the one that ensured I aced that class.

Anyways I recognize I’m just playing around with photography these days. I think that a lot of people get a smartphone with a decent camera and are automatically expert pro photographers lol that’s just not the case to get a good shot.

I have an old Canon D40 DSLR that I use a lot but I’d like to upgrade to something more modern for bike touring/bikepacking with several lenses to take nice shots of the places I visit. One day!
I'd look at the Sony compact series, like the A6xxx or Alpha 7C series and a good, fast zoom or two. I have two older A6500 and they are small and light, make good image files. The 7C has better, more intuitive firmware, I believe.
 

sablebrush52

The Bard Of Barlings
Jun 15, 2013
20,976
50,206
Southern Oregon
jrs457.wixsite.com
A “professional” photographer is someone who gets paid for their photography. It doesn’t mean that they’re necessarily better.
I’ve been a professional photographer at points in my life, such as being a stringer for the Los Angeles Arts Council back in the 1980’s, or shooting location plates for various film projects. I’ve taken some good photos and some real stinkers.
But once in a while that experience comes in handy when trying for a shot under less than ideal circumstances.
With this one I was standing in a crowd, without a clear shot, so I held the camera overhead at arm’s length and “aimed” it by best guess, anticipating the moment. I also turned off all automatic functions so that I could control exposure, depth of field, etc, to freeze the action. Could it have been better? Sure. But I was happy with the result since it tells a story.
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